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{{pp-extended|small=yes}}
{{Infobox ethnic group
{{Infobox ethnic group
|group   = Bihari Mauritians
| group           = Bihari Mauritians
 
| native_name      = [[Kalkatiya Urdu|Calcuttiyas]]
|image =
| image           =  
|population = A majority (75-80%)  of [[Indo-Mauritian]]s
| population       = A majority (85%)  of [[Indo-Mauritian]]s
|popplace = [[Port Louis]], [[Saint Pierre, Mauritius|Saint Pierre]], [[Triolet, Mauritius|Triolet]], [[Vacoas]], [[Rose-Hill|Rose Hill]]
| popplace         = Majority in 7 out of 10 districts ([[Pamplemousses District|Pamplemousses]], [[Rivière du Rempart District|Rivière du Rempart]], [[Plaines Wilhems District|Plaines Wilhems]], [[Flacq District|Flacq]], [[Moka District|Moka]], [[Grand Port District|Grand Port]] & [[Savanne District|Savanne]])
|langs   = [[Mauritian Creole|Creole]], [[French language|French]], [[Bhojpuri]], [[English language|English]]
| langs           = [[Mauritian Creole]], [[Mauritian Bhojpuri]], [[Hindustani language|Hindustani]] ([[Hindi language|Hindi]]-[[Urdu language|Urdu]]), [[French language|French]] and [[English language|English]]
|rels     = [[Hinduism]], [[Islam]], [[Christianity]]
| rels             = Predominantly: [[File:Om.svg|18px]] [[Hinduism]]<br/>Minority: [[File:Star and Crescent.svg|16px]] [[Islam]]
|related-c = [[Bhojpuri people]], [[Awadhi people]], [[Non-resident Indian and person of Indian origin|Indian diaspora]], [[Indo-Mauritian]], [[Indian South African|Indo-South African]], [[Indo-Surinamese]], [[Indo-Guyanese]], [[Indo-Trinidadian]], [[Indo-Fijian]]
| related-c       = [[Bhojpuri people]]{{·}}[[Biharis]]{{·}}[[Bihari diaspora]]{{·}}[[Non-resident Indian and person of Indian origin|Indian diaspora]]{{·}}[[Indo-Mauritians]]{{·}}[[Indo-Seychellois]]{{·}}[[Indian South Africans|Indo-South Africans]]{{·}}[[Indo-Surinamese]]{{·}}[[Indo-Guyanese]]{{·}}[[Indo-Trinidadians]]{{·}}[[Indo-Jamaicans]]{{·}}[[Indo-Fijians]]
}}
}}


'''Bihari Mauritians''' are the descendants of mainly [[Bhojpuri people|Bhojpuri]] and some [[Awadhi]] speaking migrants to [[Mauritius]]. A majority of [[Indo-Mauritian]]s are of Bihari descent, and the majority of Mauritians are Indo-Mauritian (the Hindus:  [[Bhumihar]], [[Vaishya]], [[Brahmin]], [[Rajput]], [[Koeri]], [[Chamar]], [[Yadav]], [[Kurmi]], Banias, and Kayastha castes are well represented). All but one [[Prime Minister of Mauritius|Mauritian prime ministers]] have been of Bihari descent.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/express-sunday-eye/never-leave-home-finding-india-in-mauritius-5183525/|title=Never leave home: Finding a slice of India in Mauritius|website=Indian Express|accessdate=19 March 2021}} </ref><ref>[http://pinkpigeonpress.com/Across-the-Kalapani-is%20a-celebration-of-the-Bihari-diaspora.html The Indian Diaspora] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715084048/http://pinkpigeonpress.com/Across-the-Kalapani-is%20a-celebration-of-the-Bihari-diaspora.html |date=2011-07-15 }}</ref><ref name="Bates Crispin">{{cite book |last=Bates |first=Crispin |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_F7NCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA14&dq=koeri+in+Mauritius |title=Community, Empire and Migration: South Asians in Diaspora |publisher=Springer |year=2016 |isbn=978-0333977293 |page=14 |access-date=2020-07-01}}Some 'castes' in Mauritius in particular are quite unrecognizable from a subcontinental perspective, and may incorporate mutually antagonistic castes from an Indian setting into a single group. A 'Rajput' in Mauritius is of a sudra caste, the title having been usurped by this group in the nineteenth century. The terms Hindu and 'Indien' refer exclusively to north Indian Hindus. Migrants from Tamilnad identify their religious group as Tamil, not Hindu, and minority groups such as 'Telugus' and 'Marathis' are preoccupied with maintaining regional endogamy rather than with caste distinctions. Gujaratis are also seen as a separate community, from a trading rather than an indenture background, and maintain a social distance from descendants of 'coolies'. The former Brahmin elite are referred to as the Maraz and together with the former Rajputs and other Kshatriyas, now called 'Babujis', enjoy the prestige conferred by high-caste status, whilst politically they complain of marginalization. </ref>
'''Bihari Mauritians''' are descendants of predominantly [[Bhojpuri language|Bhojpuri]]-speaking migrants from the [[Bihar|Bihar State]] of [[India]] who moved to [[Mauritius]]. A majority of [[Indo-Mauritians]] of which they are a subgroup of are of [[Bihari people|Bihari]] origin, and most [[Mauritians]] are Indo-Mauritians. Caste-wise, many Bihari Mauritians are [[Vaishya|Vaishyas]], with notable groups including [[Bhumihar|Bhumihars]], [[Brahmin|Brahmins]], [[Rajputs in Bihar|Rajputs]], [[Koeri|Koeris]], [[Chamar|Chamars]], [[Yadav|Yadavs]], [[Kurmi|Kurmis]], [[Bania (caste)|Banias]], and [[Kayastha|Kayasthas]]. Except for one, all Mauritian Prime Ministers have been of Bihari Vaishya descent.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/express-sunday-eye/never-leave-home-finding-india-in-mauritius-5183525/|title=Never leave home: Finding a slice of India in Mauritius|website=Indian Express|date=20 May 2018 |accessdate=19 March 2021}} </ref><ref>[http://pinkpigeonpress.com/Across-the-Kalapani-is%20a-celebration-of-the-Bihari-diaspora.html The Indian Diaspora] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715084048/http://pinkpigeonpress.com/Across-the-Kalapani-is%20a-celebration-of-the-Bihari-diaspora.html |date=2011-07-15 }}</ref><ref name="Bates Crispin">{{cite book |last=Bates |first=Crispin |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_F7NCwAAQBAJ&dq=koeri+in+Mauritius&pg=PA14 |title=Community, Empire and Migration: South Asians in Diaspora |publisher=Springer |year=2016 |isbn=978-0333977293 |page=14 |access-date=2020-07-01}}Some 'castes' in Mauritius in particular are quite unrecognizable from a subcontinental perspective, and may incorporate mutually antagonistic castes from an Indian setting into a single group. A '[[Rajput]]' in Mauritius is of a [[Shudra]] caste, the title having been usurped by this group in the nineteenth century. Ethnolinguistic distinctions differentiate [[Bhojpuri language|Bhojpuri]]/[[Hindi language|Hindi]] speakers from [[Tamil language|Tamil]], [[Telugu language|Telugu]] speakers and [[Marathi language|Marathi]] speakers despite all being Hindus they maintain certain regional endogamy. Even [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]] speakers are seen as a separate community, from a trading rather than an indenture background, and maintain a social distance from descendants of 'coolies'. The former [[Brahmin]] elite are referred to as the 'Maraz' and together with the former [[Rajputs]] and other [[Kshatriyas]], now called 'Babujis', enjoy the prestige conferred by high-caste status, whilst politically they complain of marginalization. </ref>
The community includes a [[Hinduism|Hindu]] majority, followed by [[Muslims]] ([[Sunni Islam]]) while a minority practices Christianity. About 60 percent of the 1.2 million population of Mauritius is of Indian origin, many them from Bihar, with [[Bhojpuri]] as their former mother tongue.


Bihari Mauritians were mainly from the [[Gaya, India|Gaya]], [[Chhapra]], Bhojpur and Gopalganj and East and West Champaran districts. In those early days of Migration, the labourers referred Mauritius as 'Marich'.
Bihari Mauritians primarily originated from the [[Bhojpur district, India|Bhojpur]], [[Gaya district|Gaya]], [[Saran district|Chhapra (Saran)]], [[Gopalganj district, India|Gopalganj]], [[East Champaran district|East Champaran]] and [[West Champaran district|West Champaran]] districts of [[Bhojpuri region]] in Bihar. During the early period of migration, the [[Indian indenture system|indentured labourers]] referred to Mauritius as "Marich". [[Amitav Ghosh]]'s novel, [[Sea of Poppies]], is set in this era and depicts the plight of impoverished Bihari migrants who undertook journeys to Mauritius and other distant [[Dependent territories of the United Kingdom|colonies]] of the [[British Empire]].


[[Amitav Ghosh]] wrote an acclaimed novel set in this period, based on extensive research, called the '[[Sea of Poppies]]'. This fictional account tells of a ship, called 'The Ibis', which brought the Bihari bonded labourers to Mauritius. The main characters who embark on the ship include a widow saved from enforced [[Sati (practice)|Sati]] by a man of lower caste, the daughter of a famous French botanist and a former aristocrat sentenced to [[penal transportation]] after going bankrupt. It also describes the devastation of the farming community in the region by the monopolistic British [[East India Company]]. According to the book, many small land owners were forced to cultivate poppies to produce the opium that was trafficked to China. This created a supply of hungry and impoverished Bihari migrants who were desperate enough to brave the hellish journey to Mauritius and even more distant colonies of the empire.
==Notable people==
{{div col begin}}
* [[Seewoosagur Ramgoolam]]
* [[Navin Ramgoolam]]
* [[Anerood Jugnauth]]
* [[Pravind Jugnauth]]
* [[Lall Jugnauth]]
* [[Kailesh Jagutpal]]
* [[Bhinod Bacha]]
* [[Heeralall Bhugaloo]]
* [[Basdeo Bissoondoyal]]
* [[Sookdeo Bissoondoyal]]
* [[Nando Bodha]]
* [[Harish Boodhoo]]
* [[Satcam Boolell]]
* [[Arvin Boolell]]
* [[Anil Gayan]]
* [[Hurrylall Goburdhun]]
* [[Ramchundur Goburdhun]]
* [[Vasant Bunwaree]]
* [[Kailash Ruhee]]
* [[Kailash Purryag]]
* [[Kishore Deerpalsing]]
* [[Lutchmeeparsadsing Ramsahok]]
* [[Dayendranath Burrenchobay]]
* [[Sheila Bappoo]]
* [[Maya Hanoomanjee]]
* [[Prithvirajsing Roopun]]
* [[Vijaya Teelock]]
* [[Ameenah Gurib-Fakim]]
{{div col end}}


==Social stratification==
==Social stratification==
Though the island is divided on ethnic and religious grounds, '[[Hindu]]' Mauritians follow a number of original custom and tradition, quite different from those seen in the Indian subcontinent. Some castes in 'Mauritius' in particular are quite unrecognizable from a subcontinental perspective, and may incorporate mutually antagonistic castes from Indian setting into a single group. The '''"title"''' Rajput is used primarily by [[Shudra]] castes in Mauritius, which was usurped by this group in nineteenth century. The 'vaish' are the largest and most influential caste group on the island, in which Koeris, Kurmi, Yadav, Teli, Bania etc. are included.The former [[Brahmin]] elites together with former Rajputs and other [[Kshatriya]]s are called 'Babuji' and enjoy prestige conferred by high caste status , though politically they are marginalized and their place has been taken by the castes who identify themselves as 'vaish'.<ref name="Bates Crispin"/>
Though the island is divided on ethnic and religious grounds, Hindu Mauritians follow a number of original custom and tradition, quite different from those seen in the Indian subcontinent. The Indian Brahminical caste structure is based on the varna system, which categorizes society into four main groups: [[Brahmins]], [[Kshatriyas]], [[Vaishyas]], and [[Shudras]]. Within this system, [[Brahmins]] (referred to as Maraz), [[Kshatriyas]] (referred to as Babujee), and [[Vaishyas]] (referred to as Vaish) are classified as high castes. These groups correspond to the Hindu concept of dvija, or "twice-born." In some contexts, Vaishyas may also be considered intermediary castes. The low castes are classified as Shudras and [[Dalits]] (outside the varna system), the latter referred to in Mauritius as [[Ravived]]. This classification can pertain to individuals, neighborhoods, or religious shrines.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Claveyrolas |first1=Mathieu |title=The 'Land of the Vaish'? Caste Structure and Ideology in Mauritius |journal=South Asia Multidisciplinary Academic Journal |date=27 May 2015 |doi=10.4000/samaj.3886 |url=https://journals.openedition.org/samaj/3886 |access-date=24 August 2024 |language=en |issn=1960-6060}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |title=The Vicious Circle that is Mauritian Politics: The Legacy of Mauritius's Electoral Boundaries | date=2022 | doi=10.1080/17449057.2020.1785201 |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/17449057.2020.1785201#:~:text=20%20There%20are%20five%20major,groups%20the%20Babujee%20and%20Maraz. |access-date=24 August 2024 | last1=Couacaud | first1=Leo | last2=Sookrajowa | first2=Sheetal Sheena | last3=Narsoo | first3=Jason | journal=Ethnopolitics | volume=21 | pages=48–79 | url-access=subscription }}</ref>


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 03:56, 16 December 2025

Bihari Mauritians
Total population
A majority (85%) of Indo-Mauritians
Regions with significant populations
Majority in 7 out of 10 districts (Pamplemousses, Rivière du Rempart, Plaines Wilhems, Flacq, Moka, Grand Port & Savanne)
Languages
Mauritian Creole, Mauritian Bhojpuri, Hindustani (Hindi-Urdu), French and English
Religion
Predominantly: Hinduism
Minority: Islam
Related ethnic groups
Bhojpuri people · Biharis · Bihari diaspora · Indian diaspora · Indo-Mauritians · Indo-Seychellois · Indo-South Africans · Indo-Surinamese · Indo-Guyanese · Indo-Trinidadians · Indo-Jamaicans · Indo-Fijians

Bihari Mauritians are descendants of predominantly Bhojpuri-speaking migrants from the Bihar State of India who moved to Mauritius. A majority of Indo-Mauritians of which they are a subgroup of are of Bihari origin, and most Mauritians are Indo-Mauritians. Caste-wise, many Bihari Mauritians are Vaishyas, with notable groups including Bhumihars, Brahmins, Rajputs, Koeris, Chamars, Yadavs, Kurmis, Banias, and Kayasthas. Except for one, all Mauritian Prime Ministers have been of Bihari Vaishya descent.[1][2][3]

Bihari Mauritians primarily originated from the Bhojpur, Gaya, Chhapra (Saran), Gopalganj, East Champaran and West Champaran districts of Bhojpuri region in Bihar. During the early period of migration, the indentured labourers referred to Mauritius as "Marich". Amitav Ghosh's novel, Sea of Poppies, is set in this era and depicts the plight of impoverished Bihari migrants who undertook journeys to Mauritius and other distant colonies of the British Empire.

Notable people

Social stratification

Though the island is divided on ethnic and religious grounds, Hindu Mauritians follow a number of original custom and tradition, quite different from those seen in the Indian subcontinent. The Indian Brahminical caste structure is based on the varna system, which categorizes society into four main groups: Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras. Within this system, Brahmins (referred to as Maraz), Kshatriyas (referred to as Babujee), and Vaishyas (referred to as Vaish) are classified as high castes. These groups correspond to the Hindu concept of dvija, or "twice-born." In some contexts, Vaishyas may also be considered intermediary castes. The low castes are classified as Shudras and Dalits (outside the varna system), the latter referred to in Mauritius as Ravived. This classification can pertain to individuals, neighborhoods, or religious shrines.[4][5]

References

  1. ↑ "Never leave home: Finding a slice of India in Mauritius". Indian Express. 20 May 2018. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  2. ↑ The Indian Diaspora Archived 2011-07-15 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ↑ Bates, Crispin (2016). Community, Empire and Migration: South Asians in Diaspora. Springer. p. 14. ISBN 978-0333977293. Retrieved 2020-07-01.Some 'castes' in Mauritius in particular are quite unrecognizable from a subcontinental perspective, and may incorporate mutually antagonistic castes from an Indian setting into a single group. A 'Rajput' in Mauritius is of a Shudra caste, the title having been usurped by this group in the nineteenth century. Ethnolinguistic distinctions differentiate Bhojpuri/Hindi speakers from Tamil, Telugu speakers and Marathi speakers despite all being Hindus they maintain certain regional endogamy. Even Gujarati speakers are seen as a separate community, from a trading rather than an indenture background, and maintain a social distance from descendants of 'coolies'. The former Brahmin elite are referred to as the 'Maraz' and together with the former Rajputs and other Kshatriyas, now called 'Babujis', enjoy the prestige conferred by high-caste status, whilst politically they complain of marginalization.
  4. ↑ Claveyrolas, Mathieu (27 May 2015). "The 'Land of the Vaish'? Caste Structure and Ideology in Mauritius". South Asia Multidisciplinary Academic Journal. doi:10.4000/samaj.3886. ISSN 1960-6060. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
  5. ↑ Couacaud, Leo; Sookrajowa, Sheetal Sheena; Narsoo, Jason (2022). "The Vicious Circle that is Mauritian Politics: The Legacy of Mauritius's Electoral Boundaries". Ethnopolitics. 21: 48–79. doi:10.1080/17449057.2020.1785201. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
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